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PIA News Service - Thursday, January 10, 2013

Alert level 1 raised in Surigao City, provinces
of Dinagat Islands

By Susil D. Ragas

SURIGAO CITY, Jan. 10 (PIA) – An alert level one
was raised early today in Surigao City, the provinces of Dinagat Islands and
the entire municipalities of Surigao del Norte following a continuous rainfall
which started Wednesday morning, January 9.

Surigao City Disaster Risk Reduction and
Management Coiuncil (DRRMC), Dinagat Islands PDRRMC and the municipal DRRMCs
hoisted early this morning an alert level one upon recommendation from the
weather bureau Pagasa.

The councils advised the suspension of classes
in the pre-school and elementary levels and urged the public to be vigilant.

Pagasa Surigao chief Jun Arpon, in a radio
interview, said the continuous rainfall being experienced was brought about by
an Inter Tropical Convergence Zone and Low Pressure Area (LPA) estimated at 490
km Southeast of Gen. Santos City and another LPA estimated at 1090 km East of
Mindanao.

They also advised all the residents situated at
the steep slope and low lying areas to take precautionary measures for possible
landslides and flashfloods.

On the other hand, Surigao del Norte PDRRMC and
Local officials have already started monitoring the water level along
riverbanks of the municipalities of Mainit, Malimono, Bacuag and Placer and
other areas of the province prone to landslides and flash floods.

As of posting, light to heavy rains are being
experienced in the two provinces. There is yet no advise to evacuate residents.
(FEA/SDR/PIA-Surigao del Norte)

2013 onwards to observe spirit of volunteerism

MANILA, Jan. 10 (PIA) -- In its news release of
December 5, 2012, the Civil Service Commission (CSC), enjoined all government
agencies to establish and implement volunteer programs on top of their regular
mandate in order to promote the value of volunteerism in the public sector.

The CSC said that the agencies' volunteer
program shall provide opportunity for state employees to express and actualize
their personal motivation and desire to help others especially the underserved
and marginalized sectors of society. This directive was issued in support to
the Implementing Rules and Regulations of Republic Act No. 9418 or "An Act
Institutionalizing a Strategy for Rural Development, Strengthening Volunteerism
and For Other Purposes" which underscores CSC's role in the establishment
of volunteer programs in national government agencies and local government
units.

These volunteerism projects and activities which
will be done beyond office hours so as not to disturb the agencies' delivery of
mandated services, shall be anchored on, but not limited to technical
development assistance, social services, environment and disaster response,
private-public partnerships, and promotion and advocacy volunteerism in remote
areas.

As mandated, the Philippine National Volunteer Service
Coordinating Agency (PNVSCA) will oversee the implementation of the provisions
of the said act and will document public sector volunteerism best practices.

Each agency will designate a focal person to
coordinate with the PNVSCA relative to their respective volunteer program
implementations.

An annual report on volunteering initiatives and
activities will be submitted by all government agencies to PNVSCA on or before
the end of October starting 2013 onwards. RA No. 9418 also covers the
observance of the National Volunteer Month (NVM) every December and the
International Volunteer Day (IVD) in the Philippines every December 5.
(CSC/PIA-Caraga)

Butuan City beefs up campaign against dengue

By Maria Luisa Dianah Z. Generalao

BUTUAN CITY, Jan 10 (PIA) -- The city government
advised the public to be more alert against dengue fever, as 398 dengue cases
were recorded in the city as of December 2012.

The City Health Office (CHO) report showed that
Brgy. Libertad is the most affected area last year with 30 dengue cases. Brgy.
San Vicente followed closely with 28 dengue cases reported.

Records also showed that 65 of all the cases
reported occurred in November 2012 alone.

Dengue is a mosquito-borne infection that causes
severe flu-like illness, and may be fatal if not immediately given proper
medical attention. Symptoms include chills, headache, and pain that affects
legs, joints, and the lumbar region of the spine.

A person infected with the dengue virus will
also experience high fever that goes on for 2 days to a week. Other symptoms
include nose-bleeding, stomachache and vomiting.

In an emergency meeting with city hall staff,
Mayor Ferdinand M. Amante, Jr. instructed the CHO to exert all possible efforts
to lessen if not cease the spread of the infection.

To avoid the dengue-carrying mosquito Aedes
Aegypti from inhabiting our homes, the CHO recommended these precautionary
measures for a safer 2013: (a) Water drums and pails are the ideal aedes
aegypti breeding grounds. If you have these at home, be sure to cover them to
prevent dengue-carrying mosquitoes from breeding inside; (b) Stocked-water
accumulated from refrigerators and dish organizers should be poured out on a
regular basis. Water inside flower vases should be replaced at least once a
week; (c) Search and destroy possible breeding places of dengue-causing
mosquitoes like discarded plastic bags, bottles, old tires, cans, earthen jars,
and other containers that might hold clean stagnant water; and (d) Practice
self-protection measures like wearing long-sleeved clothes and pants. Apply
mosquito repellant on the skin to deter mosquito bites. (NCLM/CMO-PIO/PIA-Agusan
del Norte)

With the theme “Responsableng Kabataan Kaagapay
sa Pag-unlad ng Bayan,” the youth of the province, particularly the Sangguniang
Kabataan (SK) chairmen, were made to attend the 2-day seminar/ workshop to
address their issues and concerns and update them with what’s going on around
the community.

“If you want to be leaders in the province of
Agusan del Norte, then you should have the information with what is happening
in the world. Information is power!” said Gov. Erlpe John M. Amante during his
inspirational speech.

To provide inputs on specific subject matters,
Florencio C. Mirafuentes, of the Commission on Population discussed about the
Adolescent Reproductive Health; Lucita Tagudin of the Department of Health
discussed the situation of adolescents (age 10-19) and the youth (age 10-24) in
the Philippines; Agnes Garcia and Fladelita dela Peña, health educators from
PHO, talked about HIV-AIDS/STD Infections Prevention and Control; Myrian
Balbada, chief, of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency discussed the Ill
Effects of Drug Abuse; Ormela Mae M. Beluan talked about the duties and
responsibilities of the SK; and Gloria Pabillore about the Children’s Rights.

As the President of the Provincial SK
Federation, Board Member Ronica P. Chung led the recitation of the Pledge of
Commitment in empowering the youth to make a difference in his/her community
and be a responsible leader.

CSC still accepts nomination to 2013 Search for
Outstanding Public Officials and Employees

MANILA, Jan. 10 -- The Civil Service Commission
(CSC) is now accepting nominations to the 2013 Search for Outstanding Public
Officials and Employees. The announcement was made by the Publications and
Media Relations Division of the agency.

According to CSC, the nominations to the annual
search for public service exemplars may now be submitted to the CSC
Provincial/Field and Regional Offices. The awards to be given out are the
highest and most coveted recognition given by the government to individuals or
group of individuals who have excelled or shown utmost dedication and
commitment in public service.

All officials in the career and non-career service
of the government including appointive barangay officials and employees
recognized as government employees may be nominated. However, employees who are
under job order or contract of service are exclused from the coverage of the
program.

It was also emphasized that the 2013 Search for
Outstanding Public Officials and Employees forms part of the CSC's Honor Awars
Program (HAP) with three award categories, namely: The Presidential Lingkod
Bayan Award which is conferred to an individual or group for exceptional or
extraordinary contributions that had nationwide impact; the Outstanding Public
Officials and Employees or the Dangal ng Bayan Award which is conferred to an
individual for performance of extraordinary act or public service and
consistent demonstration of exemplary ethical behavior on the basis of his/her
adherence to the Code of Conduct and Ethical Standards for Public Officials and
Employees; the CSC Pagasa Award which is given to an individual or group of
individuals for outstanding contributions that directly benefit more than one
department of the government.

To promote and strengthen teamwork, the Honor
Awards Program (HAP) is said to have strongly encouraged group/team nominations
for 2013. Any individual or organization with extensive knowledge of the
outstanding work performance and/or exemplary ethical behavior of certain
public servants may nominate an individual or group of individuals for a
specific category in the HAP. It was emphasized that the deadline for
submission of nomination for all award categories to any CSC Provincial/Field
or Regional Office is March 29, 2013.

BUTUAN CITY, Jan. 10 - The National Statistics
Office will be conducting the 2012 Census of Agriculture and Fisheries (2012
CAF) on February 25 to April 13.

The 2013 activity will have January 2012 to
December 2012 as reference period. This nationwide count involves several
activities in the field.

Several census enumerators will be responsible
in the listing of households and enumeration of agricultural, aqua cultural and
fishing operators for the 2012 CAF. A team supervisor will supervise two to
three enumerators (ENs). Eligible respondents/members of the households, LGUs,
and the citizenry are encouraged to fully cooperate during the field operation.

The 2012 CAF is geared towards the collection
and compilation of basic information on agriculture and fisheries sectors of
the country.